Hamilton dedicates 'Naval Wall' at Veterans Park

The Hamilton Township Patriotic Committee dedicated a wall at Veterans Park to the U.S. Navy on Saturday, complete with an anchor and two missiles from World War II battleships. The wall was dedicated on Oct. 13, the 237th anniversary of the U.S. Navy

As a choir from Steinert High School sang “Anchors Aweigh,” the official fight song of the U.S. Naval Academy, the Hamilton Township Patriotic Committee dedicated the west side of Veterans Park to the U.S. Navy.

The committee has already put an F4 Phantom fighter jet at the north side of the park, honoring the U.S. Air Force; and a tank, helicopter and World War I-era cannon at the east side of the park to honor the U.S. Army, said committee trustee Ronnie Steward.

“This is the first of any design on the west side,” Steward said.

At the “Navy Day” ceremony, the committee unveiled a brick-and-bluestone wall with donated naval artifacts, including an anchor from a World War II landing ship tank and two 16-inch projectile missiles, leftover ordinance from World War II and the Vietnam War.

“We were fortunate enough to acquire the pieces,” Steward said.

Officials said the installations and dedications will keep the efforts of the U.S. military ever-present in people’s minds.

“We just want to get to the people that this park is dedicated to the veterans of all wars, to the servicemen retired and still active and to those that are sill seeing action throughout the world,” said Frank Caprario, committee president.

The naval anchor was donated by the New Jersey Naval Militia and the missiles were donated by the Hopewell American Legion Post 339.

Caprario said the committee aims to have each of the four entrances dedicated to a branch of the military. Caprario estimated that each side of the park has cost between $35,000 and $40,000 to renovate and install the artifacts and military monuments in place. The fighter jet alone cost $50,000, Caprario said.

“We depend desperately on the generosity of the people of Hamilton Township, the different businesses and the organizations,” Caprario said. “Wherever we can go, we go with our hands out and beg.”

He said the committee will wait about one month before beginning its next project, a replica of the Iwo Jima statue at the Marine War Corps Memorial in Washington, D.C., to be placed at the south entrance of the park.